*Wellington County OPP Press Release*
GUELPH – Police have arrested a fourth individual in connection with the kidnapping and death investigation of a male in the City of Guelph.
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., members of the Wellington County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a collision on the Hanlon Parkway Southbound, north of Stone Road. A 40-year-old male from Cambridge was found with life-threatening injuries, transported to hospital and later pronounced deceased. Investigators discovered that the victim had been abducted earlier in the day from a residence on Fife Road by the suspects who fled in two vehicles.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Ian BROWN, age 51 of Guelph, was arrested in Guelph by members of the Wellington County OPP Crime Unit with assistance from the OPP West Region Regional Support Team. The accused has been charged with assault with a weapon, contrary to section 267(a), and kidnapping, contrary to section 279(1.1)(b) of the Criminal Code.
As a result of the investigation, three individuals were arrested, including 19 year-old Griffin Kerfoot of Elora, Jacob Shafer of Guelph and a 16 year-old male, also of Guelph have all been charged with assault with a weapon and kidnapping charges.
Brown remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Guelph on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Anyone with information about the suspects or the vehicles is asked to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.
